Relationship of hepatitis C viremia to HIV state and to infection by specific hepatitis C genotypes

Aims/Background: This study was undertaken to examine the relationship of h epatitis C (HCV) viremia to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection an d to investigate the evidence of infection by specific hepatitis C genotype s. Patients and methods: The analysis of HCV viremia was performed by rever se transcription-polymerase chain reaction in serum samples from 186 patien ts' selected by their positivity for anti-HCV antibodies. All samples were tested for HIV infection. In those patients with sera positivity for HCV RN A, isolates were genotyped by line probe assay, In those patients whose ser a were negative for HCV RNA, antibodies specific for genotypes implicated i n past HCV infection were detected by ELISA. Results: HCV RNA was detected in 117 patients with anti-HCV antibodies (62.9%). There was no statisticall y significant association between HCV RNA and HIV positivity (Odds ratio, O .R.: 1.75, Confidence interval 95%, C.I.: 0.92-3.33, p=0.095). A positive a ssociation was demonstrated between infection by HCV genotype 3 and HCV vir emia (O.R.: 10.67, C.I.: 1.51-458.05, p=0.015) in HIV-infected patients, as well as between infection by HCV genotype 1 and HCV viremia (O.R.: 4.71, C .I.: 1.65-13.75, p=0.002) in HIV-non infected individuals. In both groups, a negative association was observed between past HCV infection by multiple genotypes and HCV viremia (HIV-infected patients, O.R,: 0.10, C.I.: 0.00-1. 11, p=10.033. HIV-non infected patients, O.R.: 0.05, C.I,: 0.00-0.41, p=0.0 01). Conclusions. Infection by specific HCV genotypes (type 3 in HIV-infect ed patients and by type 1 in HIV-non infected ones) implies a higher risk o f HCV viremia, whereas multiple HCV types infection is negatively associate d with this probability. HIV coinfection does not influence the probability of HCV viremia.